Resurgent Demons end Bridgewater's unbeaten run

CALIVIL United remains in the hunt for a top-three finish after inflicting Bridgewater’s first loss of the Loddon Valley Football League season on Saturday.The resurgent Demons led all the way in an impressive 17.9 (111) to 9.12 (66) upset victory against the Mean Machine at Calivil.The 45-point victory came a week after Calivil United defeated Mitiamo by 32 points as the Demons improved their record to 9-3.For Bridgewater – which was missing six of its best 10 players – the loss came on the back of the Mean Machine winning its first 12 games by an average of 75 points.“Full credit to Calivil for the way they played,’’ Bridgewater coach Troy Auld said.“They were able to open the game up with their handball and their midfielders were dangerous pushing forward.“It was just one of those days for us where we probably just didn’t get a slice of luck to get us into the game.’’A strength of Bridgewater has been its ability to start games strongly.However, the Demons got the jump in the first term as they opened up an 18-point quarter-time lead, 3.1 to 0.1.It was at that stage a heated melee then broke out.However, over the second and third quarters the Demons stamped their authority on the contest as they booted 9.7 to 4.6 to open up a 49-point advantage going into the last term.While the victory again reinforced that the Demons – who have played in every grand final since 2002 – are again looming as a flag challenger, it held extra significance as it came on the day the club honoured one of its favourite sons, Stephen Dean, who retired earlier in the season after 200 senior games.The best for the Demons were Henry Miller, coach Ross Maxted, Lloyd Maxted (five goals) and Brock Rogers, while veteran forward Nic Balic kicked seven goals.Vice-captain Zeb Broadbent, Nick Harris, Isaac Broadbent and Brad Rohde (three goals) played well for Bridgewater.n Mitiamo full-forward Ryan Haythorpe booted 10 goals as the Superoos defeated Newbridge 18.17 (125) to 9.6 (60) at Riverside Park.Haythorpe now has 93 goals for the season, with Saturday his fourth double-figure haul for 2010.The Superoos made a flying start to the game when they held Newbridge scoreless in the first quarter, while kicking 5.7 themselves to lead by 37 points.Over the remaining three quarters Mitiamo kicked 13 goals to nine to retain second position on the ladder with its 10-3 record.Along with star forward Haythorpe, other good players for the Superoos were the consistent Luke Mitchell, Alex Chapman (three goals), Adam Pianto and veteran Steve Clohesy.The Maroons (3-9) were led by captain Sam Mildren, Adam Doyle, Carl Hardingham and Paul Scullie, who kicked four of their nine goals.n Inglewood produced a competitive effort at home against Pyramid Hill, but went down by 29 points.The Bulldogs won 19.13 (127) to 15.8 (98) to stay in the top three.The Bulldogs, who had led by just 11 points at half-time, had their gun players in Gavin James, Glen Garlett and Luan Marsh (four goals) all stand up and play fine games.The best for Inglewood – whose 15 goals came after it had averaged just seven in its previous six games against the Bulldogs – were Rohan Symes, Josh Houlden, Nathan Johns (four goals) and Adam Parry.n YCW moved a step closer to its first finals appearance since 2006 with a 18.12 (120) to 12.12 (84) win over a competitive Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Serpentine.The fifth-placed Eagles (6-6) are now two games clear of sixth-placed Inglewood, with a game in hand.Kyle Morcombe, Devin Brown, Ryan Walker and Daniel Lloyd (four goals) were YCW’s standouts.The talented Josh Shaw played a brilliant game for the Bears, booting eight of their 12 goals.